Korle Bu Teaching Hospital is the largest facility of its kind in Ghana and plays a vital role in Resurge Africa’s goal of creating a sustainable future for reconstructive surgery in the region.
The hospital’s highly successful reconstructive plastic surgery and burns (RPSB) unit is run by the Ghanaian ministry of Health under ReSurge director and Korle-bu CEO, Mr Opoku Ware Ampomah. First opened in 1997, the RPSB unit has been supported over the years by Resurge Africa, but is now almost entirely self-sufficient, and a well regarded training hub for other African countries.
Due to the unit’s reputation and role, the centre is incredibly busy with many patients self-referring by simply turning up in the morning and waiting, sometimes for many hours, until they are seen. Many have travelled for hundreds of miles in the hope of finding aid. Approximately 3000 patients are seen at the unit’s outpatient clinics annually, and over 1000 patients undergo operative treatment each year.
Initially, the unit was furnished with serviceable, redundant equipment brought over from the UK by Resurge Africa. Gradually, this has been replaced by new equipment, some of it purchased thanks to the support of Resurge and it’s donors. New operating tables; lighting systems; diathermy units; monitoring equipment; surgical instruments; sterilizing units – the work of Resurge Africa, and the generosity of its supporters, has transformed the unit into a beacon of modern, sustainable healthcare in Ghana.
New modern sluice rooms have also been created and equipped, and two wound dressing rooms used for inpatients have been completely refurbished and supplied with specialised trolleys and shower units, enabling wounds to be cleaned easily and efficiently. Most recently British High Commissioner to Ghana, Mr Iain Walker undertook a gruelling cycling challenge and raised over £33,000 towards new equipment for the Unit…an impressive feat.
TO WORK IN THE HOSPITALS”
As well as the unit, the hospital as a whole is the ideal base to support the training and development of the staff that will create a brighter future for the people of West Africa. The Korle-bu has most specialities represented, with well-equipped radiology departments, cardiology and cardiac surgery units and a very up-to-date surgical skills laboratory – unique in Sub-Saharan Africa – that has been brought up to date and maintained by Ethicon Ltd.
In this laboratory, it is possible for surgeons to train in endoscopic surgery and hopefully, from the Reconstructive surgery aspect, Microvascular surgery.
In 2018, supported by the Royal College of Surgeons HOPE foundation and an anonymous donor Resurge Africa was able to purchase new Microscopes and precision instruments to facilitate Microsurgery training at Korle-bu. The 2018 course was the first of its kind in Ghana and it is hoped that the acquisition of these microscopes will ensure access to regular courses and practice for surgeons and trainees in the region and beyond.
The hospital also boasts nursing and physiotherapy schools. One of the problems in the past has been attracting nurses to work at the hospital due to high cost of accommodation in Accra. ReSurge Africa built a block of flats for the sole use of nursing staff working at the centre, which has gone a long way to alleviating the problem.
The Team
The success of the unit is due in no small part to the commitment, skill and passion of its medical team, headed up by recently appointed CEO of Korle-bu, Mr Opoku Ware Ampomah. Mr Ampomah took over the role of unit director from Mr Albert Bedford Paintsil, who built the RPSB unit steadily over from its early foundations
The first director of the centre, Dr Fabian Mork, a man of unwavering devotion to his patients, worked in the unit until his death in February 2010. Mr Mork spent two years training in Glasgow’s Canniesburn Hospital, where he made many friends and learned the skills that would see the unit be transformed from an ambitious idea into life-changing reality under his leadership.
Both Mr Paintsil and Mr Ampomah are directors of Resurge Africa, bringing much needed information and wise counsel to the decision-making processes both within the charity and in the centre itself.
A physiotherapy unit has also been established and is headed up by the unit’s principle physiotherapist, Alberta Amissah Rockson. Alberta is a highly skilled physio and hand and burns therapist. Trained in Ghana and the UK Alberta recently presented a poster at the World Confederation of Physical Therapy 2019 congress in Geneva, Switzerland.
Last, but by no means least, are the essential supporting team of nurses. The team ensure the smooth running of the centre, supported by Ethel and her team in theatre and the ward sisters and staff. Nurses are the backbone of medical care. A new Matron at Korle-bu is to be announced soon.
The team at Korle Bu is committed to caring for the people of Ghana, and helping ensure the success of the unit can be replicated throughout West Africa.
We’ve supported them throughout their training and we’re proud to continue to support them as they change the face of reconstructive surgery in West Africa.
But none of this would be possible without the support of people like you. Find out how you can help us continue our work in West Africa by donating, volunteering or fundraising.
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